Curtain-stretcher.



S. ROKOSZ. CURTAIN STRETGHER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1910.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

3 BHEETSSHEET 1.

. n n I I u a v 0 S. ROKOSZ. CURTAIN STRETGHER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1910.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

s sums-sum 2.

I 1 i a 1 S. ROKOSZ.

CURTAIN STRETGHER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1910.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

STANLEY noxosz, or PLAINS, PENNSYLVANIA.

CURTAIN-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

\ Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

Application filed Au-gust 10, 1910. Serial No. 576,447.

To all whom ttma'y concern:

Be it known that. I, STANLEY RoKosz, a

\ citizen of the United States, residing at Plains, in the county of Luzerne .and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a curtain holding frame, and more particularly to the class of lace curtain stretchers. v

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a stretcher in which a curtain, irrespective of the size thereof, whether large or small, may be securely fastened upon the frame, so that it can be dried and bleached after the same has been cleaned, without distorting the shape, and obviating waves and wrinkles therein when removed from the stretcher.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stretcher in which the parts thereof may be conveniently folded for compactness, thus occupying the least possible space in the storage and shipment thereof.

A. further object of the invention is the provision of a stretcher in which the longitudinal and cross bars are capable of adjustment to support various sizes of ourtains, the bars being connected in a novel manner with resultant rigidity and strength to the frame when in working position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a stretcher of this character which is simple of construction, strong, durable, efficient in operation and one that may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

\Vith' these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and

pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the curtain stretcher. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. is a vertical longitudinal sectional View on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the support for the stretcher frame. Fig. (3 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view through the support for the stretcher. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the stretcher when folded, looking toward one side thereof. Fig. 8 is a similar view looking toward its opposite side. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the holding or securing members. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view of one adjustable end bar.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the' accompanying drawings, the stretcher frame comprises spaced longitudinal bars, including outer sections 10 and inner sections 11, and with these longitudinal bars are adjustably connected end or cross bars, each including a pair of extensible sections 12 and 13, the sections 12 of the end bars being provided with dove-tailed ribs or tongues 14 extending longitudinally of said sections 12, near one edge thereof, and rising from its up er face. The ribs or tongues 14: are slida bly fitted in correspondingly shaped dove-tailed grooves 15 provided in the lower faces of the sections 13 which extend longitudinally thereof for substantially the entire length of the same,

and in this manner provision is made forvarying the length of the end bars. The outer sections 10 of the longitudinal bars are connected to the inner sections 11 there of by means of hinges 16, so that the said outer sections may be folded onto the inner sections when collapsing the frame. At the adjacent ends of the outer and inner sections of the longitudinal bars formed in the outer side edges thereof are alining guide channels or grooves 17 in which are secured spaced guide eyes 18 in which are slidably mounted locking bolts 19, each being formed with an out-turned finger engaging extremity 20. These bolts 19 when moved in the guide grooves 17 across the hinged joints of the adjacent ends of the inner and outer sections to engage wtih all of the guide eyes 18 in the said grooves will lock the inner and outer sections in alinement with each other.

Carrying the longitudinal bars is a central extensible brace comprising slidably fitting parts, one including spaced parallel rails 21, the same being connected at opposite ends by cross strips 22 and 23, the rails 21 at their inner edges being provided with guide tongues or ribs 24 coextensive with the length of the said rail andslidably engaged with correspondingly shaped grooves 25 in opposite longitudinal edges of an eX- tension board 26, the same being the other part of the brace and is movable relative to the first-named part of the brace, so that the longitudinal bars of the stretcher frame may be spaced apart or brought close together, as the occasion may require in the adjustment of the frame.-

The inner sections 11 of one longitudinal bar are connected for swinging movement to the rails 21 of the brace adjacent the strips 22 by means of pivots 27, and the inner "sections 11 of the other longitudinal bar are connected forswinging movement near one end of the board 26 by means of pivots 28, and in this manner the said sections of the longitudinal bars may be swung inwardly into superimposed position upon the board and rails, respectively, of the brace 1when bringing the frame to folded condiion.

For locking the inner sections 11 of the longitudinal bars against movement, there s provided locking bolts 29, the same bemg identical in construction to the bolts 19 and are slidably fitted in alining guide grooves 30 provided in the upper faces of the inner sections 11 at their inner ends. These bolts 29 are slidably mounted in guide eyes or keepers 31 fitted in the said grooves 30 and which bolts are manipulated in the manner as heretofore stated relative to the bolts 19.

Mounted centrally in the strip 23 is a locking pin 32, the same adapted to engage any one of a series of spaced holes 33 arranged in a single row in the board 26, so as to sustain the latter in position.

The longitudinal bars at the inner edges of the sections" 10 and 11 thereof are rabbeted to provide depressed portions 34, through which, in the construction shown, from the under side are driven the retaining pins 35 for the attachment of the curtain or other article to be placed on the frame when in working position. The sections 12 of the end bars near their inner edges are provided with retaining pins 36, which are driven from the under side, and the sections 13 have secured to their inner faces L-shaped retaining pins 37 a spaced from the inner edges, it being understood of course that these sections 13 are of considerably less width than the sections 12, and the retaining pins on both of the said sections are adapted for the attachment of the curtain to the end bars.

Pivotally connected to the sections 13 are bars, so as to provide seats 40 for the latter when the end bars are connected therewith. The outer ends of the said sections 12 and 13 are provided with hearing notches 41, in which are fitted clamping devices, each comprising a single strand of wire bent to provide at one end a hook 42, the latter adapted to embrace the outer side edge of the longitudinal bar and this wire is bent at its opposite end to form a laterally extending hook 43 at right angles to the hook 42, and it is adapted to engage a headed lug 44 secured in the sections 12 and 13 near their outer end. These clamping devices will securely connect the end bars to the longitudinal side bars of the frame. The bearing notches 41 in the ends of the sections of the end bars are adapted to register with a series of spaced notches 45 formed in the outer side edges of the outer sections of the longitudinal bars, so that the hook 42 of the clamping devices will engage therein to prevent displacement thereof longitudinally of the side bars of the frame.

Secured to the strip 22 of the brace is a grooved cleat 46, to which latter is connected an extensible leg 47 the same being connected thereto by means of hinges 48, and this leg comprises inner and outer bars 49 and 50, respectively, the bars 49 being provided with a longitudinally centrally disposed guide channel or groove 51 in which is slidably fitted the bar 50, the latter being provided with laterally extending tongues 52 engaging suitable guide ways in-' tersecting the side walls of the said grooves 51, so that-the bars 49 and 50 will be held connected together, although the said bar 50 being extensible relative to the bar 49 of thesaid leg, whereby it may be lengthened when desired for holding the frame in an upright position after the curtain has been attached thereto. This bar 50 carries a locking pin 53, the latter being adapted for engagement with any one of a series of spaced apertures 54 in the bed of the guide groove 51, so that the said bar 50 may be held in adjusted position.

Engaged with the channeled cleat 46 is one end of each section 12 of the end bars, while the outer end of each of the sections 13 of the latter abuts with the strip 23 mounted on the ends of the rails 21 of the brace when the stretcher has been brought to folded condition. Adjacent to the channeled cleat 4G in the rails 21 of the brace are recesses 54 for receiving the headed lugs 44 mounted in the sections 12 of the end bars, when superimposed upon the said rails. T

The inner and outer sections of the longi tudinal side bars of the frame are suitably notched to receive the grip extremities of the bolts 19 and 29, so that they will lie flush with the outer faces of the said sections and to prevent the bolts from displacement when engaged in the said notches.

\Vhat is claimed is: 1. A curtain stretcher comprising a brace having an extensible section slidably connected therewith, side bars including inner and outer sections, pivots connecting the adj acent ends of the inner sections of the side bars to the brace and its extensible section, respectively, whereby the said side bars may swing inwardly in alinement with the brace, hinges connecting the outer sections to the inner sections of the side bars, whereby the said outer sections may be swung inwardly onto the inner sections of the said side bars, extensible end bars adapted for connection with the side bars, headed lugs mounted in and spaced from the ends of the said end bars, the said outer sections of the side bars being provided with spaced notches in their outer, longitudinal edges, the said end bars being provided with notches in their ends adapted to register with the notches in the outer sections of the side bars, and U-shaped members embracing the outer sections of the side bars and the ends of the end bars and engaging in the notches, each member being formed with a hook end adapted for detachable engagement with any one of the said lugs.

2. A curtain stretcher comprising a brace having an extensible section slidably connected therewith, side bars including inner and outer sections, pivots connecting the adj acent ends of the inner sections of the side bars to the brace and its extensible section, respectively, whereby the said side bars may swing inwardly in alinement with the brace, hinges connecting the outer sections to the inner sections of the side bars, whereby the said outer sections may be swung inwardly onto the inner sections of the said side bars, extensible end bars adapted for connection with the side bars, headed lu s mounted in and spaced from the ends 0 the said end bars, the said outer sections of the side ,bars being provided with spaced notches in their outer longitudinal edges, the said end bars being provided with notchesin theirends adapted to register with the notches in the outer sections of the side bars, U-shaped members embracing the outer sections of the side bars and the ends of the end bars and engaging in the notches, each member being formed with a hook end adapted for detachable engagement with any one of the said lugs, slidable bolt members carried by the side bars and adapted to be moved into locked position across the adjacent ends of the inner and outer sections of said side bars, an extensible leghinged to the brace, curtain attaching pins mounted in the side and end bars in spaced relation to each other contiguous the inner edges thereof, and means locking the extensible end bars in adjusted position.

3. A collapsible curtain stretcher compris ing a brace including spaced parallel bars having guide ribs at their inner edges and coextensive with each other, an extensible section mounted betweenthe said bars and slidably engaging the guide ribs, side bars including inner and outer sections, pivots connecting the adjacent ends of the inner sections of the side bars to ,the brace and its extensible section, respectively, whereby the said side bars may be-aswung inwardly in alinement with the brace, hinges connecting the outer sections .to the inner sections of the side bars, whereby the said outer sections may be swung inwardly onto the said inner sections of the side bars, extensible end bars adapted for connection with the side bars, headed lugs mounted on and spaced from the ends of the said end bars of the end sec-' tions, the said outer sections of the side bars being provided with spaced notches in their outer longitudinal edges, the said end bars being provided with notches in their ends adapted to register with the notches in the outer sections of the side bars, U-shaped members embracing the outer sections of the side bars and the ends of the end bars and engaging in the notches, each member being formed with a hook end adapted for detachable engagement with any one of the said lugs, means carried by the side bars a nd adapted to be moved into locked position across the adjacent ends of the inner and outer sections of the said side bars, an extensible leg locked to the brace and lncluding inner and outer sections, the inner section being provided w th a long tudinal groove having guide ribs pro ecting 1nwardly from the side walls of the groove, the outer section being-provided with grooves in its longitudinal edges for engagement with the guide ribs, and means passed through the inner and outer sectlons for locking the same in adjusted relation to each other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my slgnature in presence of two Witnesses.

STANLEY ROKOSZ.

lVitnesses:

MICHAEL CZEPULEWICZ, FRANK P. ROKOSZ. 

